Zuntz and Schirokich2 report a series of observations made with Mr. Fletcher about three months previous to the experiment at the Nutrition Laboratory, i. e., in February and March, 1912. The Zuntz-Geppert apparatus was used. The investigators conclude that the basal metabolism of this man was on a low plane which was coincidental with a restricted and protein-poor diet, for the subject had been living for 3 months on a diet of potatoes and butter. The post-absorptive values showed a low output of approximately 19 calories per kilogram per 24 hours. As Zuntz and Schirokich point out, this agrees very well with the values found in the respiration calorimeter at Wesleyan University with young men fasting and at rest. The two fasting men studied in the Zuntz laboratory, Cetti and Breithaupt, showed a higher basal metabolism of from 29 calories with Cetti to 24 calories with Breithaupt. While the Fletcher values are complicated by the factors of age and weight, the experiments distinctly suggest a lower metabolism with alow nitrogen intake. Although Zuntz speaks of the diet as being restricted, the caloric intake of 2,750 calories in the first period should certainly be sufficient to cover the needs of the subject. In the second period the caloric intake of 2,116 calories is probably somewhat less than the actual requirements of the body.

1 Benedict, Emmes, Roth, and Smith, Journ. Biol. Chem., 1914, 18, p. 139. 2 Zuntz and Schirokich, Separate from Med. Klinik, 1912, No. 32, 5 pp.

Since the metabolism of Mr. Fletcher has been a matter of unusual interest, the results thus far obtained with him are summarized in table 1, these including the early observations at Wesleyan University in 1903, the observations made by Zuntz and Schirokich in February and March, 1912, and those made at the Nutrition Laboratory in May of the same year.

Table 1. - Basal Metabolism Of Horace Fletcher (Lying)

1 Body-surface computed from height-weight chart of Du Bois. Arch. Intern. Med., 1916,17, p. 863.

2 Benedict and Milner, U. S. Dept. Agr., Office Exp. Stas. Bui. 175, 1907, pp. 51, 84, and 199. Values obtained between 1 a. m. and 7 a. m. Strictly speaking, subject not in post-absorptive condition, as a predominatingly carbohydrate supper, containing about 500 calories, was eaten at 7 p. m.

3 Zuntz and Schirokich, Separate from Med. Klinik, 1912, No. 32, 5 pp. Subject had been living on a continued scanty protein-poor diet (potato and butter).

4 Benedict, Emmes, Roth, and Smith, Journ. Biol. Chem., 1914, 18, p. 142.

While unquestionably during the study of Zuntz and Schirokich the subject was living on a scanty protein-poor diet and had been for some time, we have no positive information as to his dietetic habits during May of 1912, when he was studied at the Nutrition Laboratory. From the body-weight in May one would be inclined to think that he had been living upon a rather liberal diet, the weight being 82.1 kg. as compared with 76 kg. in February and March. Nine years before (in 1903), when the body-weight was 71.6 kg., the metabolism as determined at Wesleyan University was distinctly higher. It is clear, therefore, that the evidence presented by Mr. Fletcher may not be taken alone as indication of a reduced metabolism resulting from chronic undernutrition. While there is no doubt that the protein intake during a considerable period of time may have been low, the fluctuations in body-weight indicate somewhat wide variations in the dietetic habits of this subject as to the energy intake.

In the 1903 study, in the selected period between 1 and 7 a. m., when the subject was in bed inside the respiration calorimeter and without food, we find that the heat production per kilogram of body-weight was 22.5 calories with a body-weight of 71.6 kg. Nine years later, in 1912, when he was studied in February and March by Zuntz and Schirokich, and in May at the Nutrition Laboratory, the values obtained per kilogram of body-weight were 19.2, 19.3, and 19.7 calories. His basal metabolism at or about this time was thus a little over 19 calories per kilogram per 24 hours, which is distinctly low. Two factors, however, have an important bearing here. One is obesity, for, with a height of 166 cm. and an age of 63 years, the normal weight would be 65 kg.,1 while Mr. Fletcher's weight ranged from 76 to 82 kg. The excessive adipose tissue would tend to lower the heat production per kilogram. Secondly, the element of age should be considered, for, as has been shown by practically all the observations thus far available, with advancing years there is a definite tendency to a lowering of the metabolism. While, therefore, Mr. Fletcher's metabolism was distinctly lower than the normal average, it is by no means evident that this was due in any part to dietetic habits or to any other known factor than those of age and obesity.